Whether you need help fighting a traffic violation, drawing up a will, or coming out of a divorce proceeding unscathed, a good attorney can make a stressful legal situation far more bearable. In fact, the primary benefit of hiring an attorney in any given legal situation is that by doing so, you’re far more likely to emerge from the scenario with a much more favorable outcome. Of course, the challenge then becomes finding the right person to tackle the job at hand. Elliot Wiesner is an attorney who has been representing New Jersey residents on a variety of legal matters for over a decade. He offers the following advice as to what a potential client should look for in an attorney:
Specific experience
Many attorneys like to boast experience in an array of legal matters, but in reality, no attorney can claim to be an expert on each and every legal issue. Choose someone with a proven track record in dealing with the specific issue you’re facing. If you were recently caught driving under the influence of alcohol, then you’ll want to hire an attorney who has experience with that particular area of the law. Don’t be afraid to ask an attorney to prove that he is experienced in your issue, and don’t shy from asking for a summary of his track record. It is an attorney’s job to demonstrate that he has the ability to serve you well, and any attorney who can’t back up his claims with facts might not be worth your money.
Free consultations
A good attorney will offer free consultations to clients who are unsure as to whether or not his services will benefit them. The purpose of an initial consultation is to allow the attorney to establish his credentials, review the basic facts relating to the legal matter in question, outline a strategy, and provide you with an estimated cost of services so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you wish to proceed. To charge you for such information would really be to take advantage of the situation at hand. If an attorney refuses to provide a free consultation, take it as a sign of things to come as far as the rest of his service fees go.
Reasonable fees
While different legal matters demand varying degrees of compensation, a good attorney will keep his fees relatively in line with those of comparable lawyers in the same local area. As a client, you shouldn’t be afraid to do some research in order to ensure that you’re getting a good deal. The more basic the service, the less disparity there should be between competing attorneys in the same market. If you happen to stumble upon the one attorney who believes in service fee markups, then you might be better off taking your business elsewhere.
Flexible hours
Many legal matters are expensive enough on their own without putting you in the position of having to take time off from your job just to deal with them. A good attorney will understand the financial and logistic difficulties involved in missing work, and will therefore offer evening and weekend hours so that a legal issue doesn’t have to interfere with your job performance.
Attention to detail – and to you
A good attorney will make you feel like you’re getting the attention you deserve throughout the process of dealing with the matter in question. This includes promptly returning phone calls and taking the time to get all of the facts before proceeding on any given issue.
By knowing what to look for in an attorney, you’ll be better equipped to choose the one who will best serve your needs and your budget. Remember that as a client you have the right to a good attorney, and you shouldn’t have to settle for anything less.
